27 weeks

Maternity clothes: Need more shirts! The ones I got away with back in the 10-16 weeks phase are SO NOT cutting it anymore.

Stretch marks: 3 around my bellybutton, and now introducing one on the top of each thigh!

Sleep: I've been sleeping better this week, only waking up maybe once a night. I still feel like I can't get enough though!

*NEW* Belly Button: Getting shallow.

*NEW* Labor Signs: I learned that Braxton Hicks contractions can be worsened by dehydration. So since everyone says they don't hurt and it turns out they DO... I hereby resolve to better monitor my water intake. *Ballcap over the heart* style.

Best moment this week: I'd have to say it was when the doctor congratulated me on "only" gaining 3 pounds.

Movement: All the time now! I think we've even established a pattern...

6:30 am: he starts to wiggle around and help me wake up

9:00 am: soft thumps to let me know he's ready for breakfast

12:30 pm: strong pointy kicking! (it's the mac & cheese, I'm sure)

5:00 pm: TIME TO GO HOME, MOM

7:30 pm: wiggly again, and recently he's been rolling over or something around now too.

10:00 pm: OK this week he's been doing The Weirdest Thing Ever. I'm laying on my side in bed and out of nowhere it feels like a small animal is trapped between my belly and the mattress!! The first time he did this I just tried to imagine what position he had gotten himself into to make this insane squirming thing happen... but then when he did it again the next night I had to Laugh Out Loud because impersonating a hamster must just be tons of fun!

Food cravings: If this boy is anything like his mama, he is going to LOVE mac & cheese!

Gender: BOY!! I believe we are close to bringing the name debate to a close. Stay tuned, y'all.

What I miss: I miss NOT getting stared at.

"Yes, I am pregnant. November. It's a boy. No, we haven't named him yet. Oh, you can really tell he'll be a big baby just by looking at me? Wow that's talent!"

What I am looking forward to: My baby shower Labor Day weekend! I get to see MOM and JEN and all kinds of OTHER cool family and friends! YAY!

What I have learned: Nesting is for real. When you don't think twice about buying new furniture (and the rug to match, of course), it's real. This incident actually made me stop and think... all the little things I was doing add up! (Like freaking out that the floors are dirty and WHY are crumbs STICKING TO MY FEET? Now, I have to force myself to NOT go to Target and buy a bunch of stuff to finish his room because WHAT IF I’m not ready when he gets here and he has NO SHEETS and NO cute things on the wall to look at and WHAT IF I get too tired in the next 3 months and OMG WHAT IF HE COMES EARLY?!? So, yeah, good times. Luckily these thoughts happen only about once a day and don’t last too long. Nick is good at talking me down too.

Milestones: Childbirth classes! Class participation! Nick had to wear a 25 lb. backpack to show him what it's like to carry the extra weight around. We practiced having him coach me through breathing and she showed the dads some massage techniques that should help me relax. I feel pretty good about it! Nick is going to be an awesome coach.

Third Trimester! Ack!